- English
Coastal social-ecological systems (SES) are essential for the wellbeing of coastal communities and the wider
society. However, in many parts of the world coastal SES face rapid change, and ultimately degradation. In this
paper we unravel the mechanisms and implications of change in coastal SESmobilising multiple sources of
knowledge, including scientific, expert-based and traditional and local knowledge (TLK). We focus on the rapidly
changing Nakatsu mudflat in Japan, and combine primary and secondary data elicited through a mixed-method
participatory approach that mobilised local stakeholders with different types of engagement with (and knowledge
of) the mudflat. Through 4 expert interviews and 40 questionnaire surveys we identified the main
ecosystem services provided by the mudflat that are perceived to be essential to the wellbeing of the local
community. Although practically all respondents identified food provision as an important mudflat ecosystem
services, many also pointed to the importance of some cultural (e.g. aesthetic beauty, spirituality, education and
knowledge) and supporting services (e.g. habitat provision, sediment formation/retention). Through 8 Focus
Group Discussions (FGD) and concept mapping we identified and systematized the underlying direct and indirect
drivers of ecosystem change in the Nakatsu mudflat. These include population ageing and shrinking, economic
diversification, and technological change that have collectively eroded TLK practices associated with the sustainable
use of the mudflat. We also identified the mechanisms mediating these drivers and how they unfold in
reality. Our study demonstrates that participatory processes engaging multiple stakeholders with different types
of knowledge can provide rich and useful information on coastal SES change, which might not be readily obvious
from simple headline indicators such as the change in the extent of the SES.
- English
